Rockets CEO makes bold prediction about season

The Rockets’ first prediction of the season might not be topped, even if this one never mentioned games to be won or a championship to be chased.

Kevin McHale will not be so bold. His players are as unlikely to be as daring. Their boss, however, did not hesitate, at least when it came to the goals of his wing of Toyota Center and the business of basketball.

The Rockets, CEO Tad Brown said, will sell out every home game this season. For the Rockets in the Toyota Center era, that is a huge proclamation.

“We’re further ahead in our sales process at this time than we ever have been,” Brown said heading into the start of team workouts Saturday. “The season-ticket base is up 34 percent. We are close to being sold out of season tickets. And we are pretty confident with the excitement that this team has already created in the market that we’ll be sold out of every game.”

The Rockets have sold out every home game in just four seasons of their history, none since moving into Toyota Center in 2003. Beginning in 1994-95, the second championship season, they had a streak of 176 consecutive sellouts, including 149 consecutive regular-season games. The Rockets sold out 20 home games last season, including 10 of the final 15, but sales took off with the July signing of Dwight Howard.

Diversifying fan base

Brown would not say how many season tickets will be sold, but the team will hold tickets back for individual games and smaller package sales in an effort to broaden the base of ticket buyers beyond the arena’s capacity (officially 18,023).

“We’re in a position where we want to make sure as many people have an opportunity to see our team as possible,” Brown said. “We always hold back seats.”

As he spoke, Brown made his way through the Rockets’ new locker room and to the training room as equipment was being brought in and put in place for the start of camp. When the Rockets check in, they will find the downstairs basketball operations facilities renovated to the point of being unrecognizable at a cost of $7 million. (An additional $3 million to $4 million will be spent on the east side club, bar and event operations facilities to be completed by the regular-season opener Oct. 30.)

“We kind of hit the refresh button,” Brown said. “Everybody is very excited about that. The new space, the new weight room, the new offices, all the refurbishing the last couple years — it all comes to this point we feel it really is time to make that championship push.”

Improvements aplenty

To that end, he said the changes were not made for appearances (though the players’ lounge and family room were upgraded dramatically to make players want to hang around). Brown said most of the renovations were planned with scoreboards and standings in mind.

“Everything that we’re doing has to be focused on winning games,” Brown said. “Everything has to translate to how does it make us a better team.”

For all the momentum, Brown still deals with the impasse over the Comcast SportsNet carriage dispute, which is keeping roughly 60 percent of Houston from being able to see local broadcasts of Rockets games.

“We are doing everything possible,” Brown said. “We will have carriage for our games. We are working toward that goal every day. I’m going to say the same thing until we get the carriage we expect or I have a heart attack trying to do it.”

He stopped short of making a prediction about those watching games on TV. He was sure, however, that more will see games at Toyota Center than ever before.

Photo: Melissa Phillip / Chronicle

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Big deal brings Harden to H-town

Just days before the start of the 2012-13 season, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey traded Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, a 2013 first-round pick, a future first-round pick and a future second-round pick for Harden, Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward. The major move gave the Rockets their first star player since the Yao/T-Mac era. less

Big deal brings Harden to H-town

Just days before the start of the 2012-13 season, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey traded Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, a 2013 first-round pick, a future first-round pick and ... more

Photo: Melissa Phillip / Chronicle

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Dazzling debut

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In his first game in Rockets’ red, Harden scored 37 points, dished out 12 assists, pulled down six rebounds and got four steals in a 105-96 win over the Pistons.

Photo: Duane Burleson / Associated Press

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Second game twice as nice

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Harden followed up his stellar first game with a 45-point, seven-rebound effort in a 109-102 victory over the Hawks.

Photo: Scott Cunningham / NBAE via Getty Images

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Harden notched his first career triple-double on Feb. 2, 2013 against the Bobcats, recording 21 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds in 40 minutes in a 14-point winning effort by the ... more

Photo: Nick de la Torre / Chronicle

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Fear the beard

Harden's trademark facial hair has become larger than life. Fans identify with it and love it.

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Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

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Photo: James Nielsen / Chronicle

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Coming through with the game on the line

James Harden was responsible for two game-winning shots in the 2012-13 season. A running jumper with 4.5 seconds left against the Spurs that gave the Rockets a 96-95 win on March 24. A three-pointer at the buzzer on April 9 gave the Rockets a 101-98 win over the Suns after the referees reviewed the shot and determined Jermaine O'Neal goal tended the shot. less

Coming through with the game on the line

James Harden was responsible for two game-winning shots in the 2012-13 season. A running jumper with 4.5 seconds left against the Spurs that gave the Rockets a 96-95 ... more

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

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All-Star host with the most

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During All-Star weekend, Harden served as an ambassador for the city. He attended parties, took part in charity events (including an NBA Cares food drive) and coached in the ... more

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

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All-Star Game

In his All-Star debut, Harden scored 15 points, pulled down six boards and dished out three assists in the Western Conference’s 143-138 win at Toyota Center.

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In his All-Star debut, Harden scored 15 points, pulled down six boards and dished out three assists in the Western Conference’s 143-138 win at Toyota Center.

Photo: James Nielsen / Chronicle

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Career night

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Career night

The beard saved his best game for his old OKC buds. Harden scored a career-high 46 points (including a half-court heave that beat the third quarter buzzer) and had seven rebounds and six ... more

Photo: James Nielsen / Chronicle

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Harden's season was amazing to say the least. He failed to reach double-digits in scoring only twice and resurrected the Clutch City hype that took over the city in the mid-90s.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

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Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle

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Award winner

During his breakout campaign, Harden garnered the player of the week award three times and was named to the All-NBA Third Team.

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